Game scoring and subject-designating device



M. GAR-LAND 3,073,523 GAME SCORING AND SUBJECT-DESIGNATING DEVICE Jan. 15, 1963 Filed Jan. 15. 1959 III Inventor 772011210., aZJMZa/nd By H is Attorneys United States Patent 3 073,523 GAME SCORING ANl) SUBJECT-DESIGNATING DEVICE Mather Garland, Rte. 1, Box 592, Excelsior, Minn. Filed Jan. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 786,964 4 Claims. (Cl. 235-114) This invention relates to a device or apparatus for scoring certain types of games as well as designating the subjects, such as objects, numbers or the like, which are involved in a game contest. My improved device is particularly adapted to score the results, and from time to time during the contest, determine the particular subject or subjects involved in a'game contest played while traveling in motorcars, busses and trains.

it is an object of my invention to provide a scoring and subject-designating device adapted for use by two or more players participating in a game contest, where progressive scoring is involved, and where it is important to designate the various subjects or related insignia or objects whose frequency of occurrence within the vision of the players determines scoring.

For a number of years game-contests have been participated in by two or more travelers in automotive vehicles, trains, and the like where subjects or insignia such as numbers from 1 to 10, obiects such as churches or domestic animals have been selectively chosen by the two or more participants and the winner of the game determined by the frequency of said subjects coming within the vision of the participants.

My invention is particularly adapted for facilitating accurately the playing of such travel games, but in addition, through suggested designations of various subjects, oifers a rather wide variety of travel games which may be played and scored and the subjects indicated for the various players through a comparatively simple and relatively inexpensive device.

A further object of my invention is the provision upon a single or unitary compact body or frame or if desired, upon a separate counting device for each player, of fingeractuated means for progressively keeping the scores of the various participants as well as with common multifunctional elements providing subject-designating media, for each of the players.

More specifically it is an object to provide a device of the class described wherein a common, preferably sheet or plate body is provided with circumferential display and graduated areas thereon and having closely cooperating therewith, a shiftable scoring disc together with a subject-designating disc all connected together and secured through a common pivot element with related windows and designations and indicia to facilitate accurately the functions previously described.

A further object is the provision of a device of the class described wherein, through cooperation of the subject designating disc with a multiplicity of designations including numbers and words radially associated with said disc, a player may selectively choose for the subject of his contest, one, two or more subjects in accordance with the radially disposed designations.

A still further object is the mounting and correlation of the said discs for'two or more players with the body plate or plates on which the same are mounted so that the discs may be appropriately set and turned and will be retained in a predetermined set position.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my invention adapted for scoring and designating subjects for three game participants;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a more optional and elaborate and preferred form of the invention, the fragment illustrated showing complete unitary construction of the body plate, scoring and subject-designating disc for one player and a portion of similar elements mounted on the same body plate for a second par ticipant; and

PEG. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the invention form illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, I provide a unitary body 21 preferably in the form of a sheet or plate constructed of light metal, plastic or other suitable material and of rectangular shape. Said body 21 as shown is of a length and area to integrally afford mounting means and designating symbols or indicia for a plurality of game participants (three, as shown).

0n the front or upper face of body 21, as shown, three subject-designating discs 22 are pivotally mounted, preferably having their inward planar surfaces disposed substantially flush againstthe face of body 21. The three discs 22 are each provided with a plurality of windows 22a, 22b and 22c respectively which may be in the form of arcuate recesses or slots cut therein or if the disc is made of transparent coated material such as plastic, may constitute simply arcuate transparencies, all arranged concentrically of the axis of the particular discs 22.

It is important however, that the said windows be of varying circumferential length, thus, as shown, window 22a being of a length to expose only one numeral, designation or the like while window 22b, as shown, is of a length to expose two subjects or designations and window 220, as shown, is of a length to expose three subjects, numerals or other designations.

The numerals, subjects or designations referred to are imprinted or applied on a circumferential area or Zone of the face of body 21, concentric with the axis of disc 22 and in position to be selectively related with the said windows.

On the back or undersurface of body plate 21, a corresponding number of relatively large scoring discs 23 are pivotally mounted having preferably roughened or serrated peripheral edges which project at one longitudinal edge of the plate 21 slightly beyond the same to facilitate ready selective turning of the discs to bring selectively the proper numbers in registration with, as shown, circular windows 21a which are provided appropriately in body 21 in proper relation with a successive series of indicia which has numerals arranged on a circumferential portion of each of the scoring discs 23 and in the inward faces thereof.

The two sets of discs 22 and 23 are secured and pivotally attached for independent oscillation by common pivot and attachments elements 24 as clearly shown in FIG. 3, such as rivets or the like, which also secure each set of discs as shown in the form of FIGS. 1 to 3, inelusive, a ratchet type retaining medium in the form of a narrow, U-shaped strap 25, having its inner ends pivoted upon said rivets 24 and having its looped medial portion retained in a notch 21b formed for each scoring set in the lower longitudinal edge of body plate 21. Said U- shaped straps are constructed of resilient material and the topmost leg thereof carries an integrally formed pawl 25a, see FIG. 3, which releasably engages the serrations 22d formed in the periphery of the associated designating disc 22. The under leg of the U-strap 25 carries an inturned pawl 25b which selectively engages the peripheral serrations 23a of the associated scoring disc 23. Thus it will be seen that for each player, the subject-designating disc 22 may be selectively turned in either direction. step-by-step to bring the desired viewing window into registration with one, two or three of the numerals or' other insignia disposed on the circumferential zone of body plate 21 and by the pawl action of U-strap 25, the disc will be retained in the desired adjusted and designated position. Likewise as scores are made the larger scoring disc 23 may be progressively turned in appropriate direction to indicate another score or scores through the viewing window 21a associated therewith.

It happens that in FIG. 1, the viewing windows of all of the three subject-designating discs 22 are disposed to display the same numbers 6 and 5 through the double viewing windows 22b of each disc. This may be done where the game is played based on the participants first discovery of one of the two chosen numbers. However, the way the game would usually be played with numbers obtainable for approaching or passing motor vehicles, each of the three players would have a different combination of designated numbers. For example, one player could have 6 and 5; another '3 and 2; and another 7 and 8.

The scores attained by the various players are shown through the Windows 210 of the body 21 showing from left to right in FIG. 1, the scores of 10, 6, and 8 respectively. As shown, the'numerals appearing on the circumferential front face of body'plate 21 and viewable through the windows run from to 20.

The form of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and has many features and cooperating parts in common with the form first described but is adapted for facilitating and suggesting the playing of a number of different travel games while nevertheless being somewhat simpler in mechanical construction. 7

Thus in this second form, an elongated rectangular plate or sheet body 3% is provided upon which as shown, a plurality of sets of scoring discs and subject-designating discs are mounted for use by two or three players. It will of course be understood that individual scoring and designating devices clearly within the scope of my invention may be made for each player.

The plate body 39 has pivotally mounted on the front or upper surface thereof a plurality such as three widely spaced subject-designating discs 31, each having formed in the marginal portions thereof three windows or viewing notches 31a, 31b and 310 respectively. These notches may be merely cut from the marginal stock of the discs to act as indicators selectively opposing or registering with one, two or three of the radially arranged fsubjectsf or items appearing as by printing, inscription or application of a decal upon the circumferential portion of the front face of the plate directly surrounding the respective discs.

As shown, a series of successive numbers N areappropriately displayed in close side-by-side relation along an arcuatezone concentric with disc 31 whereby one of said numbers only may be selectively exposed to view through the indicator notch 31a; or where two of said numbers may be exposed to view through indicator notch 31b; or three of said numbers exposed to view through indicator notch or window 310.

The numbers as shown occupy substantially a quadrant of said circumferential-face-surface of the first players portion of plate 36. In the other three quadrants of said circumferential surface, three series, as shown of related subjects or objects are imprinted, the word or insignia for each subject extending radially relative to the disc 31 and each series being arranged in equally angulated spaced relation and the series spaced apart as shown. Thus under the heading Car Tops, various colors are designated while under the heading Car Mfgrs., several makes of automobiles are listed and under the heading Misc. (miscellaneous), several objects unrelated but nevertheless of interest to travelers are designated. Incidentally,

effort is made in the sequential arrangement of the said subjects or objects to consider frequency of seeing such subjects in travel so that if each player takes two subjects or three, he will not have a distinct advantage in a plurality of the most frequently observed subjects.

On the back of the plate 39 a corresponding number of scoring discs 32 of substantially larger diameter than discs 31 are pivotally mounted, being concentrically arranged with the subject-designating discs with which associated and preferably having the greater portion of their inner surfaces disposed flush against the back of body 30. A' series of successive scoring numbers (as shown running from 0' to 20) are designated in a circumferential zone of the forward face of the respective scoring discs 32, selectively viewable'through a window 38a (for each player) provided in the body plate 35. The face of body plate 30 is preferably smooth, such as anodized aluminum or plastic whereby name panels 3% are outlined upon which the names of the respective players may be written in erasable material such as pencil or crayon.

The central portions of discs 31 and 32 are bossed as indicated at 31d and 32d to accommodate friction washers 33 and 34 which are interposed between the respective bossed portions and the faces of plate 34 For each playing and scoring unit a single common pivot member such as the rivet 35 secures the respective subject-designating disc and scoring disc together and to the body plate 39, applying adequate pressure in the swedging of the open rivet end to give adequate frictional effect between the discs and plate. The peripheral edges of both sets of discs are preferably serrated or roughened to facilitate turning thereof.

The use and operation of my apparatus is generally obvious from the foregoing description. It is of course adapted for scoring and subject-designating in various types of games other than travel games where indicia on the radially disposed circumferential zones of the body plates might be coordinated with insignia on the smaller discs'to atrandom determine playing moves in relation to a game board.

To visualize the playing of a game appropriate for the device illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, let us assume that the first players designating disc 31 is turned to indicate under the heading Misc. Motor Graders and Grain Elevators, and that a second player has designated Aeroplanes and White Horses as his two subjects. The device is set to properly indicate such subjects so there can be no dispute at subsequent times when any one or more of the objects are observed by the participants traveling in a car, bus or train. Scoring is facilitated by the referee or the individual player turning the scoring dial 32 of his mechanism successively numerically as his objects are seen and pointed out to the participant. The first participant to score observation of 20 objects in his selected field or fields, wins the game (as played with the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5). v

v In lieu of utilizing the indicator notches or windows 31a, 31b and 310 for indicating the subjects of the game to be played, I may employ, as shown in FIG. 4, sets of indicators such as arrows A-ll, A2 and A-3 disposed radially of disk 31 and dimensionally arranged or constructed to precisely align with and cooperate with the radially disposed multiplicity of subjects imprinted or otherwise shown upon the circumferential area of the plate body 50 which surrounds disk 31. In such case, the notches 31a to 31c inclusive are used for exposing selectively the numbers or selective plurality of numbers chosen by the game participant and the arrows or other dimensionally disposed indicators A-l, A-2 and A-3 are utilized when subjects of the three series or more are employed for game participation.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the proportions, details and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A selective subject-designating device for games comprising a body plate element, a subj-e t-designating disk element pivoted to said plate and overlying a portion thereof and having an indicia-display area extending circumferentially thereof, said plate having a circumferential display area surrounding said disk, one or" said areas carrying a multiplicity of subject-designations spaced apart along a circumferential path concentric with said disk and the other or" said areas carrying a plurality of spaced indicator elements, of said elements being dimensionally constructed for selective alignment with any one of said designations and another of said elements being dimensionally constructed for selective alignment with any two of said designations and another of said elements being dimensionally constructed for selective alignment and cooperating with a plurality of successive designations.

2. A game scoring and subject-designating device havng in combination a body plate, a shiftable scoring medium disposed substantially flush against a face of said plate and having means for shifting the same, said plate having a Window therethrough for selectively viewing a multiplicity of scoring numbers disposed in proper alignment upon the inner face of said scoring medium, a subject-designating disc disposed upon the front face of said plate and pivoted thereto and having a plurality of subject indicating elements formed adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, a multiplicity of subject-designations disposed upon a circumferential area of said body plate surrounding said disc, said designations extending radially of said disc and at least a number thereof being placed angularly equally, one of said indicating elements of said disc being dimensionally constructed for selective cooperation with any one of said subject-designations and another of said indicator elements being dimensionally constructed for selective cooperation with any adjacent two of said subject-designations.

3. A game scoring and subject-designating device having in combination a body plate, a large scoring disc disposed substantially flush against the back of said plate with its periphery extended beyond an edge of said plate to facilitate selective turning of said disc, and a smaller designating disc disposed substantially flush against the front face of said plate concentrically with said scoring disc, :1 common pivot element ext-ending concentrically through said discs and through said plates and also pivotaiiy securing said discs to said plate, said scoring disc carrying circumfcrentially spaced successive numerals disposed in a circle concentric of said pivot, said plate having a window formed therein through which said numerals be separately and selectively viewed, the front face of said body plate having a substantial circumferential area surrounding the periphery of said designating disc, a multiplicity of subject-designations on said circumferential area disposed substantiaily radially of said designation disc and comprising at least two series, the designations of each series being spaced angularly equaliy, and said designating disc having a plurality of circumferentially spaced indicator elements adjacent the periphery thereof, one of said indicator elements of said disc being dimensionally constructed for selective cooperation with any one of said subject-designations and another of said indicator elements being dimensionally constructed for selective cooperation with an adjacent plurality of said subjectdesignations.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and mechanism for releasably retaining said scoring disc and said designating disc in various preselected positions relative to said plate, said mechanism including a pair of frictional elements each engaging one of said discs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED S'iA'iES PATENTS 1,555,575 Hogsten et al Sept. 29, 1925 1,607,560 Pennino Nov. 16, 1926 2,274,181 Ariani Feb. 24, 1942 2,437,621 Strate Mar. 9, 1948 2,545,364 Kimes Mar. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 734,774 Germany Apr. 24, 1943 410,324 Great Britain May 17, 1934 

2. A GAME SCORING AND SUBJECT-DESIGNATING DEVICE HAVING IN COMBINATION A BODY PLATE, A SHIFTABLE SCORING MEDIUM DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH AGAINST A FACE OF SAID PLATE AND HAVING MEANS FOR SHIFTING THE SAME, SAID PLATE HAVING A WINDOW THERETHROUGH FOR SELECTIVELY VIEWING A MULTIPLICITY OF SCORING NUMBERS DISPOSED IN PROPER ALIGNMENT UPON THE INNER FACE OF SAID SCORING MEDIUM, A SUBJECT-DESIGNATING DISC DISPOSED UPON THE FRONT FACE OF SAID PLATE AND PIVOTED THERETO AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF SUBJECT INDICATING ELEMENTS FORMED ADJACENT THE PERIPHERAL EDGE THEREOF, A MULTIPLICITY OF SUBJECT-DESIGNATIONS DIS- 